Elections 2018

Opinion

Former NDS Chief Accuses Govt Of Fueling Ethnic Division

Former NDS Chief Assadullah Khalid says government has failed to chalk out a plan for overcoming the growing insecurity in the country.

Assadullah Khalid, former head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), who visited Khost province on Friday, said government is dividing the people by ethnicity and language for its maintenance.

He slammed government over "growing insecurity" and lack of employment.

Khalid, who recently founded a political movement, Omid-e-Sabah, said election is the only solution for Afghanistan's crisis, but he added that the people want a credible, free and fair election.

He said Afghans want peace, but with honor.

“This country wants peace, me and you want peace, but a peace with dignity… Hundreds were martyred last Friday. Neither government is aware that how it will forge a ceasefire nor it informs us about how it will agree on a ceasefire,” Khalid said.

Speaking to a gathering in Khost, Khalid said government forces gave wrong report on Ghazni for three days which finally led to a crisis in the province.

The former NDS chief said government’s plans are not applicable and that the country will face a bigger crisis if government continues its mistakes.

Khalid launched his political movement, Omid-e-Sabah, earlier this month.

During the Taliban’s rule, Khalid served with the anti-Taliban resistance as part of the Ittihad faction. After the fall of the Taliban regime, Khalid worked with the National Directorate of Security, but shortly afterwards became governor of Ghazni province, a post he held until 2005.

After a re-shuffle in 2005 by then president Hamid Karzai, Khalid was transferred from Ghazni province to Kandahar province as the new governor. As governor, he said he believed in the coordination of international and national efforts in bringing stability to Afghanistan.

In early 2007, Khalid escaped an assassination attempt. He was targeted by a Taliban suicide bomber and his motorcade was destroyed but he survived with only minor injuries.

Khalid was appointed as Minister of Tribal and Border Affairs in 2008.

In 2011 besides being in-charge of the ministry, he was appointed as special representative of the president for Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul and Uruzgan provinces.

In October 2011 Khalid survived another attempt on his life. A year later, in September 2012, the National Assembly of Afghanistan approved him as head of the NDS.

A year later, on 6 December 2012, Khalid survived yet another failed Taliban assassination attempt on his life.

Former NDS Chief Accuses Govt Of Fueling Ethnic Division

Former NDS Chief Assadullah Khalid says government has failed to chalk out a plan for overcoming the growing insecurity in the country.

Assadullah Khalid, former head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), who visited Khost province on Friday, said government is dividing the people by ethnicity and language for its maintenance.

He slammed government over "growing insecurity" and lack of employment.

Khalid, who recently founded a political movement, Omid-e-Sabah, said election is the only solution for Afghanistan's crisis, but he added that the people want a credible, free and fair election.

He said Afghans want peace, but with honor.

“This country wants peace, me and you want peace, but a peace with dignity… Hundreds were martyred last Friday. Neither government is aware that how it will forge a ceasefire nor it informs us about how it will agree on a ceasefire,” Khalid said.

Speaking to a gathering in Khost, Khalid said government forces gave wrong report on Ghazni for three days which finally led to a crisis in the province.

The former NDS chief said government’s plans are not applicable and that the country will face a bigger crisis if government continues its mistakes.

Khalid launched his political movement, Omid-e-Sabah, earlier this month.

During the Taliban’s rule, Khalid served with the anti-Taliban resistance as part of the Ittihad faction. After the fall of the Taliban regime, Khalid worked with the National Directorate of Security, but shortly afterwards became governor of Ghazni province, a post he held until 2005.

After a re-shuffle in 2005 by then president Hamid Karzai, Khalid was transferred from Ghazni province to Kandahar province as the new governor. As governor, he said he believed in the coordination of international and national efforts in bringing stability to Afghanistan.

In early 2007, Khalid escaped an assassination attempt. He was targeted by a Taliban suicide bomber and his motorcade was destroyed but he survived with only minor injuries.

Khalid was appointed as Minister of Tribal and Border Affairs in 2008.

In 2011 besides being in-charge of the ministry, he was appointed as special representative of the president for Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul and Uruzgan provinces.

In October 2011 Khalid survived another attempt on his life. A year later, in September 2012, the National Assembly of Afghanistan approved him as head of the NDS.

A year later, on 6 December 2012, Khalid survived yet another failed Taliban assassination attempt on his life.